Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-09-17
0 VI II 1S1Es
"Rogeri Roger! Great GodIn

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''Rogeri Roger! Great God"
The scene lasted but a second The two
lifted fists fell, but Earonette turned at the
same instant, escaping the blow He gave
but one cry of ''Murderi" and then there was
a short but deadly struggle The murderers
hat fell, summer hat, high, gray, and bear
ing black ribbon band The candle rolled
on the table, but before it went out dark
face, covered by thick, black beard appeared
like flash. There was no more noise. Dark
ness reigned in that room. Larouette, weak
as he was tried to defend himself. The mur-
derer was colossus Still the fear of death
lent him force. Larouette tried to cry for
help. Then there was a fash and heavy
detonation, and that was all.
Henriette drew back, with chattering teeth
Great drops of sweat stood on her brow She
looked like one suddenly gone mad She re-
peated, breathless, in an agony of torture at
this sudden rending of all her happiness:
"Rogerl Can it bel Hel Oh, horribleI"
And now, in the midst of this wretchedness,
came the thought of her child; her child,
whose existence she had forgot in that sub
lime agony; of her child, who had been the
first 10 recognize her father.
Suzanne" said she with painful effort
Mammal" said faint voice behind her
Victoria had brought lamp, and now one
could see clearly into the bed room Through
the lace shade the light fell directly upon the
child's face. She did not cry. She made no
gesture, but her eyes were strangely fixed.
She must have seen and understood. for her
forehead, so pure and so candid, had suddenly
become indented with deep wrinkle. She
had aged ill that instant many years, and she
had the face almost Of woman Then
Henriette clasped her in her arms Ia a wild
pain and lifted her, and then laid one hand
over the child's eyes
''You have seen nothing gasped she
breathlessIy "You have seen nothing and
you have heard nothing. Listen to me well,
and understand me. You must remember
that you have seen nothing and have heard
nothing"
mo, mamma; shall have seen nothing,
and shall have heard nothing"
1t was no longer that silvery, sweet voice
of child; it was the grave voice of the
mother Suddenly aged by horrible spec
tacle, the child recognized clearly the whole
of her future and its Significance.
You will never say anythingT
Nothing, ever, mamma"
"Never, If you love your poor mother,
never tell what you have seen, what you have
heard, no matter what threats, prayers or
temptations are brought to bear upon your
"Never, except on your order, mother"
She called her mother" now the child was
no longer baby to say mamma"
"That is right and may God have pity on
your feebleness and innocence, however hard
he may strike me.n
She did not weep, though the nervous sobs,
strangled in her throat, nearly stified her
Still she had strength to close the window,
and on returning toward her bed she saw that
her maid, dumb and frightened, was still
there. Henriette thought she must faint, but
gathered force enough to say:
"You can 60 Victoria will put Suzanne
to bed myself"
Madame, did youn see, not hear1 Therel
Near US, very near"
"Whatl What was itG"
"A pistol shot"
@You are crazy. Leave u.s."
Excuse me, madame, but thought heard
one"
Victoria went out trembling and Henrietts
happened to glance in her glass She drew
back in alright, so terrible was her own ap-
pearance At this instant she heard a stified
groan, and turning she found Suzanne on the
carpet in convuisions. She sprang to the
| child, and lifting her in her arms caressed her
with a wild delirium of love and terror
my child, my darling child, oh, be calmi
IL, not h..a afrai hnra INV h,,lN w
| what shall dos"
But Suzanne, shaken by violent hysteria,
heard nothing Henriette ussd all the means
| in her power to restore the child, but the con-
vulsions continued for a long time-an eter-
| nifty it seemed to the stricken mother. At
last the convulsions ceased and the child re-
gained consciousness and looking her mother
in the eyes repeated with her dry little lips:
| "No, mother; shall have seen nothing; l
| shall have heard nothing.n
And they wept in each others embrace.
Suddenly they both shivered and rose to
gether; but Suzanne did not let go her clasp
about her mothers waist. The gate which
led from the lawn to the Rue de Versailles
was creaking on its hinges. Steps were heard
upon the gravel walk; key turned In the
lock of the front door.
at Is hep murmured Henrietta
Suzanne held her arms clasped still more
tightly around her mothers waist. 1t was
Roger LAroque. Henriette knew his step,
and hastily put out the lamp, leaving only
the night light burning and, staggering to
her door, locked it She trembled lest he
should come into her presence. They listened
with bated breath TO the steps coming nearer,
| nd oh at loa hafa tbo;r
and in the midst of the death like silence they
heard distinctly his breath, coming In heavy
gasps as if be had run until almost breathless.
They heard his hands as be felt about trying
the door, and they heard him knock softly,
and a voice said:
"Henriette, Henriette; are you asleepT
The mother and child stood together
clasped in wild embrace, their eyes riveted
on that corner of the room as IL death had
awaited them there They took care not tc
make a sound, and even the mother placed
her hand upon the childs lips. Roger, think
ing that they were asleep, retired softly, care
full not to awaken them Opposite to that OF
his wife and at the other extremity of tht
parlor was his own room, and he entered 1t
Every sound ceased Everything seemed Il
sleep Only quarter of an hour ago thess
two had been on the balcony, happy and inn
patient to see Roger. And now ahree live
were wrecked in that shot space.
Midnight sounded, NJ at last l O'Clock
Henriette did not try even to sleep. She sa
silent and overcome in the chair beside th'
bed of her child, and at last, thinking tina
Suzanne slept she turned her gaze towart
her, and seeing the eyes closed thought tina
the poor little thing had forgot her fear ant
horror, at least for time.
"Oh, my Godl" whispered she, shave pitt
upon that poor innocent enc"
She then rose softly and crept to the doc
and opened it slightly ard listened. Their
was no sound. She crept like a shadow int
the parlor and took a few steps forward, bu
suddenly stopped behind the piano, as she saw
that Rogers door was wide open, and by th'
light OF a lamp she could see him seated, pal,
and distressed, with bis head leaning upoI
his hands. His face was convulsed, his eye
| fixed and his hair and beard In wild disorder
Roger was 80 years old; at this instant b
, looked So On the bureau, within reach o
his hand, lay a small revolver, the revolve
which had triumphed over the last agony o
H. Larouetta And the lamp burned on wit
its steady flame, giving this spectacle to th
. watching wife.
Henriette looked, absorbing every detail o